Is it possible Monzon is overrated ? S.I. Vault article rips him ..

To be fair, the article speaks more to the mystery of Monzon rather than a well-analyzed critique; flippant and self-interested. But, I have to appreciate the madness that Monzon could evoke in so-called pundits.

Even Hagler, way after he's retired, still refers to Monzon with great respect, as a boxer, and I can't think of many who, from purely the perspective of boxing, do not do likewise.

 

This. My trainer, who turned 72 this year worked as a sparring partner for quite a few top fighters in the 60’s and 70’s and got a chance to work for Monzon near the end of his career and said he was a genius, since everything about his style was simple, but effective.

He said Monzon mostly did very simple footwork and bag drills, but did them to perfection and did very light sparring that focused on efficiency. He also said Monzon only did roadwork in camp, but throughout the year road a bike year round to save his legs and feet. My trainer trains people in a similar way to this day even though he isn’t a full time trainer anymore.

My trainer used to say that Monzon was the opposite of Ed Parker, since Parker took something simple and made it complex, but Monzon took something complex and made it simple.

 

And this is precisely why Monzon needs to be researched from the people who were there and around him and around Luna Park. The information coming out of Argentina, the documentaries, etc. .. The Argentinian Sports writers and trainers and boxing people who were there from the beginning.. Because the perception of him by some is simply not true and crock of horse sh*t. Latin "generosity" and cab drivers give me a break. Monzon as a kid was on his own, poor, malnutritioned , and trying to survive in the rough slums. He tried and worked odd jobs like paperboy and what not but street fighting for money was his thing... These kids had nothing so the aspirations to fight at Luna Park was everything to some … The competition was already starting in the streets before most of us could tie our own shoes without mommy's help. Monzon was not the favorite at Luna Park, he was the underdog. He surprised everybody in the boxing scene there. Tough and hardened even well before he met Brusa.... There wasn't tough boxing and competition going on at Luna Park with Brusa?? He turned out 14 world champions.

 

Brilliant post. What's interesting that top fighters in places like Thailand train in very similar ways.

 

Good thread.

Monzon fascinates some and repels others because with him there's victory without risk and effectiveness without sacrifice. Some (like me to a degree I guess, if I'm honest) want to see a fighter suffer for his art, for lack of a better way to put it. Monzon gave no impression of that, his inscrutability almost as big a wall and detriment to his crossover appeal as his lack of exposure in the States. He seemed not to feel it was necessary to extend himself beyond his own comfort level, and that lack of performance-mindedness costs him fans to this day.

 

Mark Kram was an amazing writer. I enjoyed reading his work. At the same time he is a writer. It's just one man's opinion. Some fighters are spectacular performers. Some are just effective. I learned that a long time ago. You have to separate that when analyzing a fighter. Some are brilliant flashy destructive others just win.
The other thing that came from it is that Monzon was 32 years old by this time and had been champion for five years already. He was fighting a guy that has little chance to beat him. He knew that. He went in and fought his style. So you can easily pick apart a guy who just won by a knockout but at the end of the day he looks a lot better than the guy laying on the canvas.
Maybe Mark Kram's expectations were too high.

 

SI boxing writing is the worst. Classic stick and ball scribes trying to talk about a sport they don't try to comprehend.

 

I actually thought it was really good back in the 70's and 80's. The writing was miles apart and above the type you'd read in boxing magazines.

 

So then I guess you missed the Valdes fights. He was 3 1/2 years older than Valdes and 20 plus fights more shopworn. And Valdes went on to beat Briscoe. Monzon fought plenty of good sized middles. How many times did Jofre fight in the " States " ?? So are you going to rip him next?

 

Brilliant post!!

 

Who's ripping him? Jesus H., settle down.

 

See, this is the kind of **** that I'm sick to death of...posters like this don't know **** about Monzon, as if he were a fighter from the 1880's or earlier....this willfull ignorance.

 

Exactly...it's like the given writer of a boxing piece was pissed off because he had to cover a sport he either hated, or was ignorant of...or both.

 

Oh bugger off. I'm explaining why he is unpopular to some, you miscreant. Talk about willful ignorance. Because I personally am not a fan makes me ignorant? Screw you.

 

Your typical level of verbal expression...wallow in your ignorance then...who cares?